Approval rates
Over his 8-year tenure, Judge Peeples has maintained a lifetime approval rate of 46% based on 15,050 total decisions. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate reached 55%, which compares to an office average of 56% and a national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical look at his historical decision-making, though every case is unique. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Peeples's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The yearly trend for Judge Peeples shows significant evolution, moving from a 36% approval rate in 2019 to 56% in 2025. With 15,050 lifetime decisions, his docket reflects a substantial volume of cases handled over nearly a decade. The recent data indicates a steady upward trajectory compared to his earlier years on the bench.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Peeples's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
Hearing with Judge Peeples? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Paducah hearing office
The Paducah Hearing Office serves you across Kentucky and surrounding regions, managing a high volume of disability appeals. The office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 56%, reflecting the regional standards for disability adjudication. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on your medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the Paducah Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Paducah Hearing Office, the bench consists of 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 42% to 65%. Because assignment is essentially random, you may be scheduled before any of these individuals. You can find more information on the Paducah Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.